Undergraduate Commencement

Accessibility for Students

If you are a student participating in the ceremony and have accessibility needs, please contact Kimberly Schumann in Disability Services at (651) 962-6315 or kjschumann@stthomas.edu. Please submit your request by April 20, 2015 to ensure availability of equipment, if needed.

Accessible Parking

The drop-off location for people with accessibility needs will be Lot G, which is located off of Cleveland Avenue between Portland and Ashland avenues. Click here to view a map of the campus. Accessible parking is available also in Lot A and Lot B, for those vehicles with state-issued handicap permits. For safety reasons, there is no drop-off or pick-up on Summit Avenue or Cretin Avenue North. All surface lots and ramps on campus have state handicap-permit parking stalls for your convenience. Parking is on a first-come first-served basis.

Accessible Seating

There are designated seating areas at the ceremony for people with mobility issues. These seats are on the floor/ground level of O'Shaughnessy Stadium. If guests in wheelchairs prefer not to sit in the designated areas, they may ask an usher to remove a chair at the end of a row so they can sit with family and friends in other areas of the stadium. Ushers will be available to assist people with mobility disabilities.

Announcements

The St. Paul bookstore will be hosting a Grad Fest on Wednesday, April 22, and Thursday, April 23, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the bookstore atrium. Each student will receive five free graduation announcements upon picking up his or her cap and gown. Additional announcements can be purchased in the bookstore. Personalized announcements can be ordered online. Please allow 72 hours for shipping.

Balloons

Balloons are prohibited at all ceremonies.

Candidate Attire

In keeping with the solemnity of the occasion, graduates must wear university-issued academic regalia, including cap and gown. Only university-issued honor cords, medallions and pins are approved for wear during the ceremony. No other oversized personal adornments, such as flower leis, hats, signs, ribbons or scarves, are acceptable. Jeans and flip-flops are not acceptable.

The cap should be worn with the mortarboard parallel to the ground, and without any additional modification to the appearance. Candidates receiving their bachelor’s degrees should wear the tassel on the right side. It is moved to the left side at the designated time.

Cap and Gown

The St. Paul campus bookstore in the lower level of Murray-Herrick Campus Center will host a Grad Fest on Wednesday, April 22, and Thursday, April 23, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the bookstore atrium. Caps, gowns and tassels will be distributed at that time. If you are unable to attend, you can pick up your cap, gown and tassel(s) at the St. Paul-campus bookstore Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. or Friday 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

The week of commencement, the St. Paul-campus bookstore will distribute caps and gowns on:

May 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

May 14-17, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.

May 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There is no charge for your cap and gown. You will need a picture ID when picking up your cap and gown.

Tassels will be given to students when they pick up their caps and gowns at the bookstore. The tassel color is determined by the student's major(s). The colors are listed below. Tassels are worn on the right side of the mortarboard prior to commencement.

The Minneapolis-campus bookstore will begin to distribute caps and gowns on Monday, May 4. Store hours are Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The St. Paul-campus bookstore in the lower level of Murray-Herrick Campus Center will distribute caps and gowns on the following dates: May 11-14 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday, May 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; May 18-21 from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday, May 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Ceremony Schedule

Friday, May 22

The Commencement Mass, a long-standing tradition at St. Thomas, will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 22, at the Cathedral of St. Paul. The cathedral is located at 239 Selby Avenue, St. Paul, MN. Caps and gowns will not be worn during the Mass. Parking is available across from the cathedral on Selby Avenue. Please contact the cathedral directly if you have questions or concerns. (651) 228-1766

Saturday, May 23, 2015: Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony

This will be an outdoor ceremony, rain or shine. A severe-weather plan will be implemented in the event of dangerous weather conditions.

Please come prepared for the weather with hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, and rain ponchos or rain coats. (Umbrellas are not permitted.)

12:30 p.m. - Schoenecker Arena doors open and graduates must check in and be in line by 1:30 p.m.

1 p.m. - Gates open to O'Shaughnessy Stadium for guest seating. Early seating will not be available.

1 p.m. - Faculty and staff members (non-marshals) are encouraged to attend the ceremony and walk in the procession to show support and encouragement to the graduates. Report to Shoenecker Arena to line up. Appropriate academic regalia is required.

2 p.m. - Commencement exercise begins with the academic procession.

4:30 p.m. - President’s reception will be held on Monahan Plaza following the ceremony. All are invited.

Tips for Faculty and Staff Members, Students

Please do NOT leave valuables in the arena during lineup or after the procession.

Wear comfortable shoes with low heels. You will be walking a significant distance from the lineup area to your seats during the procession.

Come prepared with hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, and rain ponchos or rain coats for the outdoor ceremony. (Umbrellas are not permitted.)

Do not bring items into the stadium that might detract from the dignity of the ceremony, or take any action that interferes with the ceremony. Thank you for demonstrating your support and giving the ceremony the dignity and honor that it deserves.

Tickets are not required for the commencement ceremony unless the severe-weather plan is implemented. See “Severe-Weather Plan" information.

Commencement Mass

The Commencement Mass, a long-standing tradition at St. Thomas, begins at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 23, at the Cathedral of St. Paul. The cathedral is located at 239 Selby Avenue. Caps and gowns are not worn during the Mass.

Diploma

Students who participate in the May commencement exercises will hear their names announced and receive their diploma covers when they walk across the stage.

You will receive your diploma when all of the requirements for your degree are completed and your tuition account is paid in full. If requested, please complete a Perkins Loan exit interview. Your diploma will be mailed to you approximately eight weeks after all requirements are verified as completed.

All seniors who place pre-paid orders for diploma frames during Grad Fest on Wednesday, April 22, and Thursday, April 23, will receive a 10% discount on their pre-paid orders. Diploma frames will be available for pick-up the week of graduation.

Diplomas of students who do not attend the commencement exercise will be mailed to the graduates' permanent addresses, as recorded in the Registrar’s office, approximately eight weeks after all requirements are verified as completed, and the tuition account is paid in full.

The size of the diplomas is 8.5x11 inches. Information on the diploma includes the name of the university, the university seal, the graduate's name, the degree represented by the diploma, and the date of graduation.

Grad Fest

The St. Paul-campus bookstore, located in the lower level of Murray-Herrick Campus Center, will host its annual Grad Fest on Wednesday, April 22, and Thursday, April 23, for all seniors who will participate in the spring commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 23. Grad Fest will be celebrated from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day in the bookstore atrium.

Seniors will be able to pick up their caps, gowns and tassels along with five free graduation announcements and severe-weather-plan tickets during this time. GradImages (the professional photographer that the university has hired for the commencement ceremonies) will be present at Grad Fest, along with other vendors selling graduation memorabilia. Students who are unable to attend Grad Fest can pick up their caps and gowns in the bookstore during regular store hours starting Monday, April 20.

Avoid disappointment: Make sure that you qualify for the graduation ceremony.

Students should check the commencement website for an up-to-date list of all students who have been approved to graduate. Click on the Undergraduate page, then scroll down to Participation List. The list will be updated every Monday. If your name does not appear on the list, check with the Registrar’s office to determine what information is needed in order to qualify for participation in the ceremony

Those Unable to Attend Grad Fest

The Minneapolis-campus bookstore will begin to distribute caps and gowns on Monday, May 4. Store hours are Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The St. Paul-campus bookstore in the lower level of Murray-Herrick Campus Center will distribute caps and gowns on the following dates: May 11-14 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday, May 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; May 18-21 from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday, May 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Honor Cords, Ribbons and Medallions

Aquinas Scholars cords and certificates will be distributed at the Aquinas Scholars Honors Convocation on Tuesday, May 5. Invitations will be sent by email to eligible students prior to spring break. Please contact Erica Berglund if you have any questions regarding the distribution.

Latin-honors ribbons, medallions and Delta Epsilon Sigma cords will be distributed in the spring. Please check back for dates and times.

All other honors should be collected from the sponsoring department or student organization. Please contact the department or organization directly for pick-up times.

Hotels

Please click here to see "Accommodations." Follow the directions for each hotel to get the UST rate.

Live Streaming Video

Live-streaming video will be available during the ceremony on the commencement website. Click on Video in the bottom-right corner. In additional to live-streaming on the day of commencement, the video will be available online.

Map

Miscellaneous

Students and faculty members should not leave valuables during lineup.

Students and faculty should wear comfortable shoes with a low heel. You will be walking a distance during the procession.

We request that you do not bring items into the convention center that might distract from the dignity of the ceremony, or create any action that interferes with the ceremony. Thank you for demonstrating your support and giving the ceremony the dignity and honor that it richly deserves.

Important Note: Possession or consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited during the procession and ceremony.

Newspaper Announcements of Graduates

Newspaper announcements of graduates will be issued for all verified students. Please note that the list of verified students will not be available until approximately one month after the end of the spring semester. In addition, it can take two to four weeks to process and mail the list. Publication is at the discretion of local newspapers. If you have questions regarding the releases, please contact Brittany Stojsavljevic at STOJ0003@stthomas.edu.

Nonattendance

Please notify Barbara Rath at barath@stthomas.edu or (651) 962-6708 if you do not plan to attend the ceremony.

Parking

Free parking will be available in all surface parking lots with red or yellow signs, and in two parking ramps on campus. Click here to view a campus map. The Anderson Parking Facility’s entrance is located off of Cretin and Grand avenues. To park in the Morrison Hall ramp, enter from Selby Avenue and Finn Street at the north end of campus. The Morrison Hall ramp has a height restriction of 12’6”. See "Accessible Parking" for information on parking with a handicap permit and accessible drop-off.

Please use on-campus parking and do not park in the surrounding neighborhood. Several streets in close proximity to campus are posted with signs requiring city-issued residential parking permits. The St. Paul Police Department will ticket cars violating parking restrictions.

Participation List

Please check back closer to graduation for more information.

Photographer

A professional photographer from GradImages has been hired by the university and will take your picture as you receive your diploma. Proofs will be sent to your permanent address and via email three to five days after the ceremony. There is no obligation to purchase. Pictures can be ordered online, by phone or by mail. GradImages can be contacted at (800) 261-2576 or at www.gradimages.com.

Picture-taking by graduates, family members or friends on or near the stage is prohibited.

Picture Taking

Picture-taking on or near the stage is prohibited.

Senior Class Gift

The Senior Class Gift has been a tradition at St. Thomas for more than 30 years!

At the undergraduate commencement ceremony in May, each graduating class presents a class gift to the university president and the St. Thomas community. The 2015 Senior Class Gift Committee encourages all seniors to support the gift and leave a legacy for future students. In appreciation, every senior who participates will be recognized at commencement and will receive a Senior Class Gift lapel pin to wear on his or her gown at graduation.

Severe-Weather Plan

Commencement will be held outdoors in O’Shaughnessy Stadium, rain or shine. However, in the event of severe or dangerous weather conditions, the ceremony will be moved indoors to the field house, located inside the adjacent Anderson Athletic and Recreation Complex.

At approximately 11:00 a.m., UST leaders will announce any weather-related location changes, via the commencement website, Facebook, Twitter, and text messages (be sure to sign up for text alerts). If there is no announcement, then plan on an outdoor ceremony.

In the event of severe weather, students participating in the ceremony will be given two tickets for guest seating in the field house. Students will receive these tickets when they pick up their caps and gowns. Infants and toddlers will not require tickets, if they do not occupy seats. The doors to the field house will open at 1 p.m. for guests with tickets. Seating will be available prior to the academic procession. However, once the procession begins, guests will be asked to remain in the rear of the venue until the graduates are seated. Please arrive by 1 p.m. to avoid having to stand during the procession.

Family members and guests without tickets will be directed by ushers to video-viewing sites on campus. To view the campus map, click here. The ceremony will be streamed live online at the UST commencement website. Click on Video in the bottom-right corner. In addition to live streaming on the day of commencement, the video will be available online.

The President’s reception will follow commencement in the Anderson Student Center atrium. All are invited.

Shuttles

There will be free shuttle buses for students participating in the commencement ceremony. They will leave from outside of Flynn Hall on the north end of the St. Paul campus at 12:30 and 12:45 p.m. Free parking will be available in Morrison Ramp R-1 and R-2 and Lot A. Shuttles will drop off at the Minneapolis Convention Center. They will return to the St. Paul campus leaving the convention center after the ceremony at 4:45 and 5 p.m.

Speaker

Please check back closer to graduation for more information.

Strollers

If the severe-weather plan is implemented, strollers will not be allowed in the field house because of the large number of guests who attend the ceremony. There will be a stroller corral where guests can leave strollers in the lower quad, south of the Anderson Athletic and Recreation Complex. Ushers will direct guests to the stroller corral, and the area will be supervised during the ceremony.

Tassels

Tassels will be handed out when students pick up their caps and gowns from the bookstore. The tassel color is determined by a student’s major(s). The colors are listed below. Tassels are worn on the right side of the mortarboard.

Text Messages

Students and families have the opportunity to receive text messages with information about the commencement ceremony. This is a no-reply text-messaging system. Recipients will not receive a response if they reply to these messages. Students, text TASSEl.15 to 80077. Family members, text TASSEL FAMILY to 80077. Data rates may apply. Text STOP to 80077 to stop receiving text messages from the university.